Posted by Becky Sanders
a resident of Ventura
on Oct 7, 2013 at 11:16 am

I live a block away. This house has been an eyesore and a source of vermin and a crime location. Many of us in the neighborhood have regularly called the police, the fire department, sent letters to the absentee owner to no avail. We all agreed it was a disaster waiting to happen. Some of us even cut the mile high dead grass on occasion to reduce fire risk. The back yard was full of debris, stacks of wood and empty paint cans, and the house itself was full of junk. Now we have an expensive and unnecessary fire that someone has to pay for and clean up. Really quite frustrating.

Posted by Ventura Neighbor
a resident of Ventura
on Oct 7, 2013 at 12:03 pm

Yes, this home would have never been ignored, if it were in a different neighborhood. Kind of wonder now how long it will stay, as a burned down home. Hopefully it will be torn down right away, but.... we will see.

Very good. Please keep adding. Please keep writing. I would like to collect them.

I have also regularly contacted Brian Reynolds, PA Code Enforcement Ofc. I called Adult Protective Services in '06 numerous times, in '11 and as recently as of Friday, Oct. 4th, 2013. I spoke with Matthew Beaux at APS Friday and there's nothing they can do despite all the red flags. I've spoken with Ofc Taber of MVPD, got no where. I've contacted the Mercury News but haven't found the appropriate reporter.

Hoarding and OCD are concomitant mental illnesses as now recognized by DSM V.

To my recollection, the house has been vacant for over 35 years. The 2nd to last tenant was a very nice lady who moved out. Her kids, age 21 or 22 at the time, took over the rental agreement. Soon after, the unit turned into a crack house with a couple of .22 type shootings. The tenants were evicted by the sheriff. They left the insides in deplorable and despicable conditions.

The investigation will continue. The remains of this structure with the unfortunate number of a registered 290 address, should be cleaned up within the month. The neighborhood deserves better and would be very nice to have a wonderful, normal house again.

I also know that this home has been vacant for 35 years. Many years ago, neighbors offered to buy it on at least 2 occasions. It's a shame that there is no ordinance that could force the owners to maintain the property.

I do believe that this situation would not have festered for so long in many other Palo Alto neighborhoods.

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